I followed the Instructor into a massive auditorium, where Villains dressed in the same uniform as me were lined up in neat rows.
The Instructor walked straight to the front and took a seat in an empty chair near the podium. I quietly slipped in behind the Villains and looked up toward the stage.
Next to the large beam projector, several familiar faces were seated.
There was Kang Bijun—the reason I’d infiltrated this hideout—and beside him sat Kang Biso, someone I hadn’t seen in a while.
Maybe it was because we’d crossed paths so often until recently, or maybe it was the sudden break in encounters, but seeing Kang Biso’s face again felt strangely comforting.
Did he lose weight?
He looked noticeably thinner than the last time I saw him.
I’d fully expected Kang Biso to shamelessly show up again after our escape, as if the kidnapping never happened—but he hadn’t appeared once. I assumed he was doing fine, but judging from his face now, he hadn’t received any Guiding since then. He looked terrible.
I was still pissed about the kidnapping, but if he’d shown up looking like that, I might’ve offered him some Guiding. Just a bit. Against my better judgment, I was starting to worry about him.
The doors to the auditorium closed with a soft thud, and Kang Bijun suddenly stood up. After sweeping his gaze across the trainees, he picked up the mic.
“Looks like everyone’s here. Let’s get started.”
A meeting? So this was why they’d gathered everyone. But what kind of meeting needed to drag even the trainees into this mess?
I tried to recall what major events happened around this point in the story.
The only thing that came to mind was the Kim Yong-ha kidnapping.
In the novel, Kang Biso began mobilizing the Villains to abduct Kim Yong-ha. The Espers at the Center, still on edge after the incident with Baek Beom, tried to stop him—but in the end, Kim Yong-ha was taken.
Then Kang Biso forcibly received Guiding by overpowering the struggling Kim Yong-ha.
First Baek Beom, then Kang Biso. One traumatic event after another left Kim Yong-ha deeply wounded, until he eventually stopped speaking altogether.
But… weren’t they jumping the gun? I was pretty sure the plan to kidnap Kim Yong-ha didn’t happen until after Baek Beom’s abduction attempt failed.
Still, the timing couldn’t have been better. My goal here was Kang Bijun, but if I could pick up more intel on the kidnapping, I’d have a better chance at protecting Kim Yong-ha.
“Let’s take a look at the screen.”
Kang Bijun gestured to the projector, and text flickered onto the screen.
[Abduction Operation: Guide Center Target]
Just as I’d guessed. And if someone from the Guide Center was getting kidnapped, it had to be Kim Yong-ha.
“Our plan is to abduct a Guide from the Guide Center in one week.”
Kang Bijun swept his eyes across the Villains standing at attention and then clicked to the next slide.
My face immediately contorted.
“Our target is Hwang Seol-bin. D-Rank Guide.”
That was my picture on the screen.
My pupils shook.
What the hell? Why was my face up there? And from the way Kang Bijun clearly said my name, this wasn’t some mix-up…
Was this about the chaos I caused last time? Were they trying to recapture me?
Listening to a kidnapping plan with me as the target was so surreal, it was almost laughable. My head was spinning.
“Um… I have a question.”
One of the Villains cautiously raised a hand. Kang Bijun nodded, inviting him to speak.
“What is it?”
“Why him, exactly? A D-Rank Guide isn’t hard to abduct—we don’t need an elaborate plan for that. And I heard an S-Rank Guide just appeared in the news. Wouldn’t it be smarter to go after him instead?”
Damn good question. That was exactly what I wanted to ask.
There was absolutely no reason to go through all this trouble for a D-Rank like me.
Kang Bijun nodded slightly, then turned back to the screen.
“Fair point. But he’s not just any D-Rank.”
“…What do you mean?”
“For starters, his Matching Rate with Captain Kang Biso is remarkably high. That alone makes him a worthwhile target.”
With all eyes on him, Kang Biso waved playfully at the crowd. The Villain who asked the question quickly dropped his gaze and lowered his hand.
His hunched shoulders and pale face made it obvious—he was scared stiff.
“If he’s capable of Guiding the Captain, then odds are, that D-Rank label is a lie. Plus, he’s strong enough to escape this place on his own.”
The Villains started whispering amongst themselves, but Kang Bijun didn’t pause.
“And on top of that, Esper abilities don’t even work on him. Don’t you think that alone makes him worth abducting?”
“Y-Yes, sir…”
“Any other questions?”
“None, sir!”
The other Villains stiffened up, focusing intently as Kang Bijun continued laying out the operation.
Everything from what they knew about me to how they’d approach and execute the kidnapping—it was all spelled out in chilling detail.
The plan was far more calculated than I’d expected. If I hadn’t stumbled onto it, I might’ve been snatched up without ever seeing it coming.
“Don’t assume he’ll be easy to capture just because he’s a Guide. If he resists, use the sedative we’ll issue for the operation.”
Kang Bijun made a point of emphasizing—several times—that no Esper abilities were to be used, except in pursuit. Even though he’d just stated they didn’t work on me, he was still covering all the bases.
What a calculating bastard.
This is what makes guys with brains so dangerous—they think of everything.
“Now, moving on to the second matter…”
What now? Could this finally be the operation to kidnap Kim Yong-ha?
The screen changed at Kang Bijun’s signal—and when I saw what came up next, I could only stare in disbelief.
[Book of Wishes]
Book of Wishes? What the hell is that?
“A few days ago, an item called the Book of Wishes was discovered inside a dungeon.”
The Villains started murmuring among themselves. Judging by the confused expressions, they were hearing this for the first time too.
So was I. Not a single mention of it appeared in the novel.
The book focused on the darker sides of Kim Yong-ha’s life as a Guide—abduction, imprisonment, abuse. He was forced into Guiding, humiliated, and eventually took revenge, rising above the Espers who once saw him as disposable. But never—not once—was there any mention of something called the Book of Wishes.
“Apparently, the government took immediate interest and began researching it. It’s rare for them to go all-in on a non-weapon item like a book.”
The moment “government” was mentioned, the Villains began to grumble again. Most of the reaction was negative, which only seemed to please Kang Bijun.
“So we’re going to steal it. If it’s something the government is desperate to get their hands on, wouldn’t stealing it first make it that much more satisfying?”
Steal it? Just like that?
I glanced around. But no one looked fazed. In fact, the Villains all shouted in unison, full of energy.
“Yes, sir!”
“We’ll go over that mission in detail after we’ve gathered more intel. For now, the most important thing is the Guide abduction happening in one week. That one has to succeed—only then can we move on to the next.”
Kang Bijun gave a satisfied smile, and the Villains responded with burning enthusiasm. Just then, Kang Biso—who’d been sitting with a bored expression the whole time—stood up.
“Let me say a few words.”
“Yes, Captain.”
He took the mic from Kang Bijun, then spoke in a deep, serious voice.
“Hwang Seol-bin is my Guide. You bring him back no matter what. Do that, and I’ll reward you well. So risk your life if you have to. Understood?”
First Kim Hyun-joong, now him? Who the hell keeps claiming I’m their Guide?
Honestly, what is it about me that gets people this obsessed? All I want is to be a regular, low-key D-Rank Guide.
“Yes, sir!”
The Villains shouted loud enough to shake the walls.
Kang Biso and Kang Bijun then calmly left the stage. After that, the Instructor scrambled up to the podium and started explaining the plan again from the top, going into detail.
I took the chance to quietly slip out while no one was paying attention.
The plan to kidnap me was one thing. But this Book of Wishes? That was something else entirely.
My head was spinning.
Book of Wishes. What a ridiculously cheesy name…
Since it wasn’t in the original story, there was a good chance it had nothing to do with Kim Yong-ha at all. And yet—for some reason—I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was probably the word wish in the name. That kind of term doesn’t get thrown around lightly.
Still, there was nothing I could do about it now.
One thing at a time.
First… Kang Bijun.
I reminded myself of my purpose for coming here and picked up the pace.
***
Kang Bijun stole a glance at Kang Biso, who was walking beside him.
He looked terrible. It had already been over a week since his last Guiding. The last time had been when he snuck into the Guide Center to get Guiding from Hwang Seol-bin. Since then, he’d overused his powers, and now his body was hitting its limit.
“Hyung, seriously. Why don’t you just go back to the Center and get some Guiding?”
“Just one more week. I can hold out.”
“You look like you’re gonna drop before then.”
“If I go now, he’ll be on edge. You saw it too—he’s not normal. It’s better to wait until he lets his guard down and then take him.”
“What even is he? The info we had before was completely off.”
Kang Bijun recalled the last time he saw Hwang Seol-bin.
He’d never met a Guide who could fight like that.
He’d already suspected the guy was talented from training, but to see him beat down Espers and stroll out of the hideout like it was nothing? Kang Bijun had almost clapped.
And Esper abilities didn’t work on him? At that point, it was hard to believe he was a Guide at all.
Back when he only had the reports, he didn’t get why his brother kept calling Hwang Seol-bin his Guide like a broken record. But after seeing him in person, it made sense. And he realized then—it wasn’t just about looks. His brother hadn’t fallen for him just because of his face.
Hwang Seol-bin’s ability was the real deal.
“I don’t know either. That’s what makes him so damn intriguing.”
“Can’t argue with that…”
“Don’t even think about getting ideas. He’s mine. Try anything, and I’ll end you.”
The moment Kang Bijun showed even a hint of interest, Kang Biso bared his teeth, eyes flashing cold.
“Yeah, yeah. I get it.”
Kang Bijun knew better than anyone how obsessive his brother could be. He wasn’t desperate like Biso, and the last thing he wanted was to get on his bad side. Until the operation, he’d just keep quiet and focus on his role.
After a short silence, the hallway forked.
Kang Bijun turned toward his office out of habit, while Kang Biso veered in the opposite direction.
“I’m stepping out for a bit.”
“Huh? Why? Where you going?”
“Got a headache. Just gonna get some air.”
“Alright. If it gets bad, at least go to another Guide and get some Guiding.”
“No.”
Kang Biso shook his head firmly and strode away without another word.
“So damn stubborn…”
He’s gonna collapse one of these days if he keeps that up.
Kang Bijun clicked his tongue and made his way toward his office.
